Bellingham opens playoffs tonight against Hollywood
March 17, 2007 - American Basketball Association (ABA)
Bellingham Slam News Release
BELLINGHAM, Wash. - The Bellingham Slam will open the 2007 American Basketball Association playoffs tonight as they take on the Hollywood Fame in a second round match-up at 7 p.m. at Whatcom Pavilion.
Hollywood defeated the Maywood Buzz, 143-124, in a first round match-up on Friday night in Los Angeles to advance to the second round.
The Slam will look to repeat the success they enjoyed last season in the ABA playoffs, where they reached the quarterfinals in their inaugural season. Bellingham defeated the Tacoma Navigators at home and the Pittsburgh Xplosion on the road before falling to the San Jose Skyrockets in the third round.
The Slam finished the 2006-07 regular season with a 22-10 record, good for first place in the ABA's Western Conference. Their record earned them an eighth-place seed in the ABA playoffs and a bye in the first round of the playoffs.
Hollywood finished the 2006-07 season, their first in the ABA, with a 14-12 record and fourth place in the West. After starting the season 10-4, the Fame struggled down the stretch, winning just five of their last 13 games.
The Fame helped the Slam open their home schedule this season, with a pair of games at Whatcom Pavilion on Nov. 16 and 17. Hollywood came away with a pair of victories, but only won by a combined four points in both contests. The Fame are led by former UCLA forward Billy Knight, who scored 28 points in their playoff game against Maywood. Knight was also named MVP of the ABA All-Star Game in Halifax, Canada on Jan. 28, thanks to a 21-point scoring effort in the West's 138-123 victory.
The Slam are led by the trio of forward Mike Parker, and guards Jacob Stevenson and Brandon Hartley. All three are averaging at least 20 points per game for the Slam, with Parker leading the way with a 30.6 points per game scoring average. Parker recently set a new single game scoring record for the Slam, by putting up 51 points against the Fresno Heatwave in the Slam's regular season finale on Feb. 28.
Tonight's playoff game will be broadcast live in Bellingham on KBAI 930 AM, with the Slam Pre-Game Show starting at 6:30 p.m. Fans can also keep track of the game with live stats provided as the game progresses on the Slam's website at www.bellinghamslam.com.
The winner of tonight's playoff game will take on either the Vermont Frost Heaves, Quebec Kebekwa, or Stong Island Sound next week in the third round of the ABA Playoffs.
For more information, call the Slam at (360) 734-SLAM or visit their website at www.bellinghamslam.com.
Note: OurSports Central no longer actively covers the American Basketball Association (ABA) as a professional league due in part to its inability to publish and play a schedule and the transitory nature of many of its teams. For information on professional minor leagues, please see OSC's basketball section.
• Discuss this story on the American Basketball Association message board...
American Basketball Association Stories from March 17, 2007
- Fame defeats Buzz in playoff contest - Hollywood Fame
- Quad City heads to Texas for Quaterfinal Contest - Quad City Riverhawks
- Bellingham opens playoffs tonight against Hollywood - Bellingham Slam
- Ask the CEO - ABA
The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.
